No liquor, little travel: What Easter 2020 looked like on SA’s roads
Limited movement on the country’s roads amid the nationwide lockdown ensured an almost unprecedented decline in road deaths over the Easter period.
The Easter weekend traditionally sees a tremendous increase in traffic across South Africa.
According to Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, this period saw a decline of 82% in road deaths. This, he said, was in line with an overall reduction of 70% in terms of traffic. A total of 28 people died on the roads this year, compared to the 2019-figure of 162 deaths. No deaths were recorded in the Free State or Northern Cape this year.
The Easter weekend saw 26 fatal crashes, with pedestrians accounting for the highest figure (38%) followed by single vehicles that overturned (19%).
Provincial breakdown of Easter weekend road deaths:
Mpumalanga (7); KwaZulu-Natal (6); Eastern Cape (5); Gauteng (3); Western Cape (3); North West (3) and Limpopo (1).
A decline in traffic volumes had a corresponding effect on the number of traffic violations. A total of 11 drivers were arrested, while only one was caught speeding.
One of the busiest Easter weekend routes, according to Simon Zwane, the Spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation, is the N1 highway between Gauteng and Limpopo which historically, sees a surge in traffic as pilgrims make their way to Moria for the annual Zion Christian Church gathering. For the first time in many decades, it was agreed that the ZCC gathering would be called off. Foreign nationals heading home for the weekend also use this route. This year, however, these travellers left the country to go home on the eve of the lockdown, as trans-border travel was prohibited from midnight on 26 March.
This year’s Easter weekend saw most traffic officers concentrate their efforts on enforcing the lockdown regulations. Many travellers who did not have the required permits, or who produced false permits, were turned back to their destinations as trans-provincial travel is not allowed during the lockdown period.
Another popular route for travellers over Easter weekend is the N3 from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal. KZN Transport Spokesperson, Kwanele Ncalane confirmed that the province saw far less traffic than in previous years. The Gauteng Traffic Department reported a drastic drop in road accidents on Good Friday and in traffic flow. Spokesperson, Obed Sibasa said the roads were not nearly as busy compared to previous Easter weekends. “We conducted patrols not only because of the Easter weekend but also to ensure that motorists adhere to the lockdown regulations. The drop in the number of drunk drivers was huge compared to other Easter weekends,” Sibasa said.
Across the country, the total number of arrests for violation of road traffic laws stood at 719, while traffic law enforcement authorities manned 480 roadblocks. A total of 104,140 vehicles were stopped and checked at these roadblocks. The number of vehicles impounded was 236 with 171 vehicles discontinued due to unroadworthiness.
Over the same period in 2019, the number of arrests for violation of road traffic laws was 1 343, with 141 roadblocks. The number of vehicles impounded was 1 055, while vehicles discontinued for unroadworthiness stood as 702.
Although the exact figures for April are not available yet, preliminary data suggests that this Easter weekend was the quietest in the history of TRAC (Trans African Concession). This was also the second consecutive year without any fatalities on the South African side of the N4.
TRAC Spokesperson, Solange Soares Nicholson said the drop in traffic was tremendous, “It is definitely the first time in the history of TRAC that there were so few incidents and accidents on the road. We experienced the usual traffic in terms of heavy vehicles such as trucks that were permitted to transport food and produce, but class one vehicles were definitely in the minority”.
Known as a time for relaxation, holidaying and visiting family and friends or church gatherings, the Easter weekend traditionally offers citizens a welcome break.
Easter road fatalities over the last few years:
2019: 228
2018: 510
2017: 449
The year 2019 saw a 48% decline in road deaths from the year before, the then Transport Minister, Blade Nzimande, announced at the time. The total number of vehicles stopped over Easter was 161 784 vehicles as compared to 109 771 in 2018. A total of 1 343 arrests were affected in 2019, as compared to 1 598 in 2018, with 807 drivers arrested for drunken driving, compared to 312 in 2018. The highest reading for driving under the influence was reported in Gauteng where the main offender tested a reading of 2.64mg/ 1 000ml. A total of 192 drivers were arrested for speeding, with the highest speed recorded in Gauteng at 203 km/h. In 2018 the fastest recorded case of speeding was also recorded in Gauteng, with the speedster caught doing 196km/h.
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